Bulk carrier steaming south after flooding, power issues on Thursday

A Joint Task Force Atlantic spokesperson says the bulk carrier Centennial Harmony, having corrected "its deficiencies", no longer requires assistance in the North Atlantic off the province's coast.

The vessel is headed south towards its next port of call, but Major Amber Bineau had no information what that destination might be.

She did say that both Canadian Armed Forces aircraft and Canadian Coast Guard marine vessels have been stood down.

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The bulk carrier Centennial Harmony is experiencing flooding and intermittent power issues, but it is under control and there are currently no intentions to abandon ship.

There are 21 crew on board.‎

“All crew members are safe,” said Jocelyn Lubczuk, press secretary for the minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, in a phone call shortly after 9:30 p.m. “They’re carrying on with their voyage.”

Major Amber Bineau, a public affairs officer with Joint Task Force Atlantic told The Telegram by e-mail that the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax responded to the incident about 250 nautical miles East-South East of St. John's in the South Grand Banks region beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The ship required technical assistance due to the intermittent power issues.

Responding to the carrier are Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft CC-130 Hercules and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

Bineau said weather is an issue with poor visibility, high winds and rough seas but conditions are expected to improve.

“The sea state was originally reported as being between 18-20 meters that have since abated to about 10-12 meters. Winds were reported at 85 knots and are reported to have decreased to about 65 knots,” Bineau wrote.

A resupply ship — Maersk Cutter — is about 80 nautical miles away from Centennial Harmony and is on standby to assist if required.

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The Telegram has received reports a bulk carrier is in distress about 60 miles from the Terra Nova oilfield.

A source familiar with marine traffic told The Telegram the crew onboard the Baltic Shipping bulk carrier Centennial Harmony were heading to lifeboats after the ship took on water and lost power this afternoon.

Those details have not been confirmed by Coast Guard, however Coast Guard has confirmed the Sir Wilfred Grenfell is on the way to assist the ship and that the case is being co-ordinated out of Halifax.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m., a spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard said their office is “incredibly seized by the situation” and are compiling details before issuing a statement.